"He still needs some more time," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "The swelling has gone down. He still has significant soreness in there."

Scott started Alonzo Gee at shooting guard at Detroit on Monday. He shifted back to small forward for the Bulls.

Waiters' absence, coupled with point guard Kyrie Irving being sidelined with a broken left index finger, leaves the Cavs at a disadvantage offensively. It's not like there's an abundance of scorers on the roster when everyone is healthy.

"That's about 40 points," Scott said. "We have to get more creative on offense and really move the ball."

The Cavs fell behind, 30-17, after the first quarter in Detroit. Scott started Gibson to have someone who can make a basket and defend.

He said he didn't consider starting C.J. Miles, who continues to be in a slump.

"If I understood why he was struggling, I could help him more," Scott said. "You have to find a way to fight through it. He hasn't played up to par. He's been in one system for seven years. It still takes time to get used to (the Cavs' system)."

Varejao, the league's leading rebounder at 15.2 per game (before Wednesday), has had just three games this season when he didn't reach double figures on the boards. The Chicago game on Nov. 2 was one of them.

"They both play with an unbelievable passion for the game," Scott said. "They probably don't like each other much. (Noah will) bring the same type of effort and energy (as Varejao)."

Scott said he knew Varejao would average a double-double this season.

"I didn't know he'd average 15 rebounds," he said. "I didn't know he'd lead the league in (total) rebounds and offensive rebounds. I'd be lying if I told you he'd do that."

Varejao is annoying to opposing players.

"He's one of those guys you hate playing against and love having as a teammate," Scott said.

Rookie initiation

The Cavs asked all three rookies -- Tyler Zeller, Kevin Jones and Waiters -- to push a pink baby stroller to the game.

Scott said he did the same initiation when he was the coach in New Orleans.

Just in time, Jones was recalled from the D-League Canton Charge on Tuesday.

"He's a pretty good basketball player," Scott said. "He's a hustle and board guy. From 15 to 19 feet, he can make that shot. Around the basket, he can finish. That's something we've been having trouble with. We'll see if it transfers to this level. We saw it in practice and in the D-League. But here, he'll be going against 7-footers."

Not real close

Irving is probably a couple weeks away from returning to the practice floor in contact drills. He's been practicing lately, but when they have contact, he sits out.

"I know he's anxious," Scott said. "We're not going to take any chances. We'll leave it up to the doctors. He has to get at least one practice in. The chance of him coming back early, I don't know."

Doctors estimated he'd miss four weeks. He's been out since Nov. 17.

Rip not close

Even though the Bulls continue to list shooting guard Richard Hamilton as day-to-day, Coach Tom Thibodeau said he'd be sidelined another week or two.

He has a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.

Hamilton has been replaced in the starting lineup by Marco Belinelli. Hamilton was the Bulls' second-leading scorer at 13.9 points.

Oops

In Scott's pregame briefing, one reporter's phone rang.

What did Scott do? He answered it.

"She can't talk right now," he said. "She's in a press conference. This is Coach Scott. I have the cameras on right now. I'm doing all right. I'm hanging in there."